Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas

Mar.22.2023
Hong Kong Government to Allow Transit of E-Cigarettes Overseas
HK government allows alternative smoking product export by air, sea, and land, with a new regulatory framework to prevent local distribution.

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on March 22 that on Friday, March 24, it will publish the draft amendment to the Import and Export (Amendment) Regulation 2023. This amendment will permit the transportation of alternative smoking products (including electronic cigarettes) to overseas markets via air, sea, and land routes that are connected through Hong Kong. The draft amendment will be submitted for legislative council review on Wednesday, March 29.


The Hong Kong government is set to establish a regulatory system that will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, aimed at strengthening the regulation of cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products and reducing the risk of such products entering the local market.


A spokesperson from the Transport and Logistics Bureau stated today (March 22) that "due to the harmful nature of alternative smoking products, the government maintains its stance on prohibiting their entry into the local market. However, we have noticed that the prohibition of intermodal transportation of such products since April 30, 2022 has caused significant losses to Hong Kong's aviation cargo transportation industry. Therefore, we should exempt the intermodal transportation of such products through a new regulatory framework, while ensuring that they do not enter the local market.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has expressed its welcome and support for the proposed regulations aimed at restoring the transportation of alternative smoking products from the Mainland, via Hong Kong International Airport, to overseas markets under a new regulatory system.


Sorry, I cannot complete this task as there is no text to translate. Please provide the text to be translated.


A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council expressed support for the government's efforts to safeguard public health. However, given the importance of transporting alternative smoking products to Hong Kong's logistics and air freight industries, members believe that it is equally important to quickly resume the transportation of these products.


As an AI language model, I am programmed to write in standard journalistic English. Please provide me with the text to translate.


The industry will fully cooperate with the government to implement the new regulatory system, which will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs, in order to enhance the regulation of the cross-border transportation of alternative smoking products. The spokesperson added.


The government has consulted the Economic Development Committee of the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, and the trade and logistics industry, and received widespread support for submitting a bill to the Legislative Council.


Reference:


Press Release


On Friday, the draft revision of the 2023 Import and Export Ordinance for Alternative Smoking Products was published in the Official Gazette. This includes amendments related to the transportation of such products.


The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council has endorsed the proposed legislative amendments for the 2023 Import and Export (Amendment) Bill relating to the transit of alternative smoking products.


Further reading:


The Hong Kong government has acknowledged that the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes has resulted in huge losses and will push for amendments to relevant laws in the Legislative Council.


Exclusive Interview with Cloud Pu Jiahang: Hong Kong and Shenzhen may cooperate to establish a pre-clearance facility.


If the ban on transporting electronic cigarettes is lifted, should one choose Hong Kong or Shenzhen?


Hong Kong to resume e-cigarette distribution via sea and air transport only in early 2023.


Special Notice: 1. The content of this article is taken from documents such as "2023 Import and Export (Revised) Regulations" and should be referenced in their original form. 2. This article is intended for industry communication and exploration only and is not meant to promote or recommend any specific brand or product. 3. Smoking is harmful to health. Minors are prohibited from reading this article. 4. This article is an original piece by Shenzhen 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. and its copyright and usage rights belong to the company. No unit or individual is authorized to copy, reprint, or use this article in any other way without permission. Violators will be subject to legal liability and the company reserves the right to pursue such action.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation
North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation
North Carolina has expanded enforcement of its vapor product directory rules, authorizing more state and local law enforcement participation and establishing a task force led by the State Bureau of Investigation. The legislation requires at least one unannounced compliance inspection annually for retailers, distributors and wholesalers handling covered products. Penalties effective October 1, 2026, include civil fines of $500–$750 for a first violation and $1,000–$1,500 for repeated violations within 12 months, along with potential license suspension or revocation. Manufacturers may face penalties of $10,000 per unlisted product. The measures strengthen the product directory system established in 2024.
Regulations
Oct.28
Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
Wall Street Journal: U.S. FDA Plans Faster Vape and Nicotine Pouch Reviews, Revisit of 2021 PMTA Rule
The Trump administration is preparing changes intended to accelerate FDA market authorization reviews for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, according to The Wall Street Journal. The FDA is expected to revisit its 2021 PMTA rule and may simplify some scientific study requirements and shorten review times. The agency has not formally announced the changes. Over the past year, the FDA has already accelerated nicotine-pouch reviews, expanded ENDS authorizations and upgraded its CTP Portal NextGen application system. As of August 2026, 43 nicotine pouch products and 48 e-cigarette products had received FDA marketing authorization.
Sep.24
2Firsts On-Site | PMI Brings IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro Together at Its “Boulevard” at InterTabac 2026
2Firsts On-Site | PMI Brings IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro Together at Its “Boulevard” at InterTabac 2026
At InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund, PMI is presenting multiple brands and products along “The PMI Boulevard,” including IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro. On-site images captured by 2Firsts show dedicated spaces including the IQOS Boutique, ZYN Café, PMI Gallery and Marlboro Office
Market
Sep.16 by 2Firsts Perspectives
PMI Showcases ZYN, IQOS and U.S. Investments at NACS Show 2026
PMI Showcases ZYN, IQOS and U.S. Investments at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Philip Morris International (PMI) showcased its ZYN nicotine pouches, IQOS heated tobacco products and U.S. investments. A 2Firsts review of FDA records found that several ZYN products displayed at the booth were not on the agency's marketing authorization list, including certain nicotine strengths and flavors. A PMI booth representative also confirmed that IQOS is currently sold in three U.S. states, while the newer IQOS ILUMA system remains under FDA review.
EXPO
Oct.10
Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director
Former Roche Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Communications Director Ria Kioupritzi Joins PMI as Scientific Affairs Director
Eleftheria (Ria) Kioupritzi, a biopharmaceutical professional with more than 15 years of experience, has joined Philip Morris International as Director Scientific Affairs within Corporate Affairs. She previously served at Roche as Senior Scientific Communications Director for Neuroscience and Rare Diseases and worked extensively in spinal muscular atrophy. Her earlier career also covered competitive intelligence, clinical and regulatory monitoring, pipeline development and launch preparation. During her time working in Roche's SMA field, Evrysdi passed through several U.S. FDA milestones, including its initial approval, an expanded indication for younger infants and approval of a tablet formulation. Public records do not show that Kioupritzi herself led the FDA submissions.
Sep.22
New York City Opens Lottery for 55 Vape Retail License Slots Across 23 Community Districts, Including 28 in Brooklyn
New York City Opens Lottery for 55 Vape Retail License Slots Across 23 Community Districts, Including 28 in Brooklyn
New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) opened applications on November 2, 2026, for a lottery covering tobacco and electronic cigarette retail dealer licenses, with a deadline of 5 p.m. New York local time on November 30. According to the city's October 1 notice, 55 electronic cigarette retail license slots are available across 23 community districts, including 28 in Brooklyn, alongside 322 tobacco retail license slots across 41 districts. Businesses must enter the lottery and, if invited, complete licensing requirements within 65 days. New York City continues to restrict e-cigarette retail sales to tobacco-flavored or unflavored products, while city retail licenses do not replace FDA product marketing authorization.
Market
Nov.04